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Police Charge Captain and Question Local Port Master as Negligent in Shipping Tragedy.

A local ferry operating between Kusamba on Bali's eastern shore and the nearby Nusa Penida capsized and sunk shortly after setting sail from Bali on Wednesday afternoon, August 26, 2009. 9 passengers from a total complement of 27 crew and passengers drowned with two passengers still reported as missing at sea.Local press reports indicate the ship – the Putra Romo - sailed in normal weather at 3 p.m.. Shortly after leaving Bali's shore, the waves in the straits suddenly intensified, causing the ship heavily burdened with lumber and cargo, to capsize.Of the nine local passengers who perished in the incident there were 4 adult men, 4 adult women and one child of 6 years. 16 passengers survived the shipwreck and 2 remain missing and are presumed dead. Several of the surviving passengers have been hospitalized due to injuries they sustained.The Port Master (Syahbandar) at Kesumba, Nengah Warnatha, and the Captain of the Putra Romo, Kadek Geria, are both undergoing police interrogation to determine their potential culpability in the capsizing. The two missing passengers are Wayan Satu and Wayan Payur, farmers from Nusa Penida whose families have reported that they failed to return to their homes. Search and Rescue teams continue to search the waters at the wreck site and adjoining waters without any trace of the two missing men. Six ships, including one Navy vessel, and one helicopter are participating in the search.Police Focus Suspicion on Port Master, Captain & CrewPreliminary investigations suggest the ship was overloaded and failed to carry the required lifesaving equipment at the time of the incident. A spokesman from the Bali police headquarters revealed that the ship, rated to carry 70 passengers, only carried 27 at the time of its sinking. Authorities fear, however, that the ship left port with more than 10 tons of sand and cement in its hold, a total weight exceeding the ship's safe carrying capacity and in complete violation of the ship's designation as a pasenger vessel. Potentially even more alarming, police told the press that the vessel which, according to law, should carry an over-abundance of 105 life jackets, apparently set sail without a single buoyancy device on board. A Radar Bali report on Saturday, August 29th, that investigators are narrowing the focus of their investigations on the Port Master and the Ship's Captain as the people who must answer for the loss of life.Police spokesperson, Gde Sugianyar, told the press that his officers have found numerous mistakes committed by the Port Master and the Captain.Police reminded that the Port Master has absolute authority to allow ships to sail after verifying that the vessels are seaworthy and carry the required lifesaving equipment. According to police, there were no flotation devices on the ship. Furthermore, the ill-fated ship was classed to only carry passengers between Bali and Nusa Penida when, in reality, it was being used to move passengers, cement and san. Sugianyar said, "there is strong suspicion that the ship sank do to overloading."The Captain and the Port Master now face the possibility of being charged under a 2008 law governing sea transportation that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and fines of Rp. 1. 5 billion (US$150,000).Police have indicated that the Captain is being handled as a suspect in the commission of a crime. Meanwhile, the Port Master is still listed as a witness, but could be changed to a suspect later in the official investigation.

Garuda Targets Successful US$400 Million Public Offering

Public To Soon Be Offered Chance to Own Part of Indonesian National Airline.

Bisnis.com reports that State-owned Airline Garuda Indonesia is hoping to reap between US$100 and US$400 million in their initial public offering (IPO) of shares to the public.The CEO of Garuda Indonesia, Emirsyah Satar, said he is optimistic that as much as US$400 million could be netted from the sale of shares now in its final stages of preparation. Emirsyah made his comments to the press after attending a fast-breaking reception with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.The Garuda CEO remained non-committal on the exact date for the proposed IPO. Buoyed by recent positive financial results and bright future prospects, Emirsyah predicted that by the year 2015 Garuda Indonesia would enjoy a financial standing equal to or greater to that of its competitor Singapore Airlines.

Bali Seeks to Preserve its Agricultural Heritage

Jakarta's Approval Sought on Plan to Preserve Tracts of Bali's Agricultural Land in Perpetuity.

Tempo Interactive reports that steps are underway that will preserve certain areas of Bali as perpetual agricultural lands, blocking the way for the subject lands to be diverted to other non-agricultural pursuits.In a move intended to preserve the nature and culture of Bali, the regional decree that would preserve in perpetuity certain areas of Bali for agriculture was approved by the Provincial House of Representatives on August 25, 2009.Bali Governor Made Pastika hopes the Home Ministry would quickly ratify the measure, saying the new regulation reflected the aspirations of the Balinese people.

Home for the Holidays

Bali's Transportation Officials Prepare for Surge of Lebaran Travelers in Third Week of September.

The Denpasar Department of Transportation is preparing an armada of 890 busses in anticipation of the traditional upsurge in domestic passengers headed to Java and other islands during the busy Lebaran holiday period. As reported by bisnis.com, the Chief of the Denpasar Transportation Office, Gede Astika, said that, as in years past, his office was working closely with transportation service providers to ensure sufficient vehicles are available to carry people back to the home villages across Indonesia for the annual holiday set to start from the weekend beginning September 16, 2009. "In addition to busses, we are also preparing minibuses and other forms of transport," explained Astika.Authorities are predicting a 10% increase in Lebaran traffic this year, reflecting the improving economic condition in Indonesia.In order to keep traffic moving, authorities are planning special inter-agency command posts to be set up along busy roads across the nation. These posts will be manned by officers from the Indonesian Army, Police, Department of Transportation, Traffic Police, Fire Department, Health officials and other interested agencies. The Command Posts will provide support services intended to enhance the safety and security of holiday travelers and provide traffic information to the public.Police and law enforcement officers have also been tasked to move against transportation companies and scalpers who use the holiday period to coerce illegal fees and levies from travelers.Police will also be equipped to test blood alcohol levels of public transportation drivers during busy traffic period.

Copyrighting Bali's Culture

Bali's Government Wants to Preserve it Claim on Bali Dance, Drama, Music and Architectural Style.

Bali's Cultural Directorate has confirmed that steps are underway that will "patent" as intellectual property the Pendet Dance and a whole range of other traditional performances and Bali- style cultural elements. The move is part of a continuing hullabaloo between Bali and Malaysia in which the island's artists charge Malaysia with trying to hijack Bali and Indonesia's cultural identify to promote Malaysian tourism. [See: Malasyia, Truly Bali] Following mass protests stage by Balinese artists on August 22, 2009, the Bali Cultural Directorate has held a series of coordination meetings to deal with the problem. Those meeting are inventorying and cataloging Bali's rich range of cultural and artistic traditions for eventual registration. Undeterred by official explanations from Malaysia that the use of Balinese Dances in a Discovery Channel documentary on Malaysian were without the involvement or endorsement of the Malaysian government, Indonesian cultural circles have become adamant that steps must be taken to safeguard Indonesia from cultural pretenders. While how the actual patents will be applied remains unclear, officials say the safeguard being put in place will offer protection to Bali's music, dance, theatre, architecture, traditional organizations and the Bali-Hindu philosophical tradition.Both the Balinese government and its people seem committed to create a protective legal umbrella over the island's rich cultural milieu.

Garuda Enlists Indonesia's Air Force

Garuda and Indonesian Air Force Sign Agreement to Share Expertise, Staff and Facilities.

Garuda Indonesia is creating new frameworks for cooperation with the Indonesian Air Force in the area of human resources.The agreements being put in place between the National flag carrier and the Air Force address aircraft maintenance, training, human resources and flight services.Garuda's CEO, Emirsyah Satar, told Bisnis.com. "the new agreements for cooperation being put in place are renewals of pre-existing agreements." The memorandum of understandings were signed by Emirsyah and the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force, Subandri, at the Air Force Headquarters in Cilangkap, West Java.Emirsyah told the press that the agreements focused on human resources encompassing the development, training and utilization of pilots, cabin crew, instructors and technicians.Within the framework of cooperation in the area of aircraft maintenance, Garuda and the Air Force will share maintenance facilities as a step towards greater efficiency. The memorandum of understanding covers a period of 5 years and is a renewal of a similar agreement already in operation.

Bali's Biggest Export: Cruise Ship and Hospitality Workers

Bali Targets 8,000 Trained Ship's Crew to Set Sail on the Seven Seas in 2009.

Between 6,000 and 8,000 young Balinese will be sent abroad in 2009 to work on foreign cruise ships. The Head of job placements and employment opportunities for the Bali Manpower, Transmigration and Population office, Anak Agung Putra Adhi, said he hopes the target could be achieved, given the high demand for Balinese youths to work on floating hotels.Speaking to Kompas.com, Adhi confirmed that for the period January-June 2009, some 2,500 Balinese have been sent to work on cruise ships by the 33 manpower supply companies licensed in Bali. He also revealed that for the entire year of 2008 the total of Balinese leaving to work on cruise ships equaled 4,000 workers, an increase from the 3,0000 workers leaving to work on ships the previous year.Demonstrating the strong demand for Balinese workers abroad, Adhi cited a Spanish shipping company who recently asked for 500 more Balinese chip workers in addition to the 750 already employed by that cruise line. "The opportunities to work in Spain and other companies are open for the young generation of Balinese, providing they possess certain skills including foreign language abilities," he explained.The man charged with assisting in the placement of Balinese in new employment opportunities said the talent of the Balinese workers, their high work ethic, discipline, dedication and the lack of problems they bring to the workplace make them sought after by foreigner employers.Balinese workers are now employed in 30 countries, many as ships' crews workers sailing the oceans of the world, with the remainder mainly employed in the international hotel and restaurant industry.

The sculptures of Balinese artist, Ida Bagus Putu Gede Sutama, mirror the
reality of his home located near Sanur Beach. For thousands of years, the tides and
currents of the Strait of Badung have washed flotsam and jetsam to the shores of Sanur, supplying villagers with a livelihood closely tied to the sea and temples.
One of the most picturesque sights of Sanur are the colorful jukungs – triangular-sail outrigger canoes lining the beach. With bowsprits Carved in the shape of elephant fish, the same sea that gave birth to these mythological creatures is the source of Sutama's
inspiration. These ships, like the humans who sail upon them, have lives of limited duration before the break up to become the colorful flotsam that lines the beach.The Balinese have long been sensitive to the 'magical' properties of the mediums used to create sculptures. Spirit and life imbue all things. It is a therefore only natural for Balinese artists to visualize faces and torsos hidden within the inanimate objects. Sutama's elephants are inverted jukung rudders whose long handles have become trunks. Discarded masts transform into birds and transoms into cubistic masks.While each of sculptures is unique, they are all bound by Sutama's love of distressed color. The boats are repainted every year with bright layer after bright layer of thickening paint. The passage of time and wear unevenly strip away sections of paint. A marred green surface reveals sub-layers of blue and yellow. The effect is not unlike ancient walls plaque with thousands of posters, evoking a certain timelessness.There is also a magical element in these transmutations. Sanur has long had the reputation as a powerful centre of magic, both black and white, in its nature. Local priests tread the narrow, precarious space between the natural and supernatural world. Thus so, the sea which surrounds Bali is the literal and figurative frontier separating Bali from the outside world. As an artist Sutama seeks to transform the mundane into the mysterious with a sparkling smile and enigmatic wink.

42,226 More Seats Available on Garuda's Domestic and International Flights September 15-28, 2009.

The sculptures of Balinese artist, Ida Bagus Putu Gede Sutama, mirror the
reality of his home located near Sanur Beach. For thousands of years, the tides and
currents of the Strait of Badung have washed flotsam and jetsam to the shores of Sanur, supplying villagers with a livelihood closely tied to the sea and temples.
One of the most picturesque sights of Sanur are the colorful jukungs – triangular-sail outrigger canoes lining the beach. With bowsprits Carved in the shape of elephant fish, the same sea that gave birth to these mythological creatures is the source of Sutama's
inspiration. These ships, like the humans who sail upon them, have lives of limited duration before the break up to become the colorful flotsam that lines the beach.The Balinese have long been sensitive to the 'magical' properties of the mediums used to create sculptures. Spirit and life imbue all things. It is a therefore only natural for Balinese artists to visualize faces and torsos hidden within the inanimate objects. Sutama's elephants are inverted jukung rudders whose long handles have become trunks. Discarded masts transform into birds and transoms into cubistic masks.While each of sculptures is unique, they are all bound by Sutama's love of distressed color. The boats are repainted every year with bright layer after bright layer of thickening paint. The passage of time and wear unevenly strip away sections of paint. A marred green surface reveals sub-layers of blue and yellow. The effect is not unlike ancient walls plaque with thousands of posters, evoking a certain timelessness.There is also a magical element in these transmutations. Sanur has long had the reputation as a powerful centre of magic, both black and white, in its nature. Local priests tread the narrow, precarious space between the natural and supernatural world. Thus so, the sea which surrounds Bali is the literal and figurative frontier separating Bali from the outside world. As an artist Sutama seeks to transform the mundane into the mysterious with a sparkling smile and enigmatic wink.

Bali SKAL Club Earns Praise as Largest and Fastest Growing in Southeast Asia.

In a busy schedules of globetrotting to visit as many as possible of the 480 SKAL clubs in 89 nations during her one year term of office, SKAL President Hulya Aslantas came to Bali in a visit that culminated in a special luncheon in her honor on Friday, August 28, 2009.At a lavish luncheon held at The Laguna Resort & Spa at Nusa Dua, Bali, President Aslantas congratulated the Bali club members for achieving the status of becoming the largest in Southeast Asia and a world leader in membership growth.SKAL, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary has a long and distinguished history with Indonesia. Shortly after SKAL was inaugurated as an international organization in 1934, Jakarta established quickly captured the aims and ideals of the organization by establishing the 13th club in the world.Adopting the theme of "Bridging the Cultures" as the theme of her one-year tenure, President Aslantas shared her vision of expanding and enhancing the unrivaled network of travel professionals that comprise the more than 22,000 SKAL members around the world. To that end she has conducted a survey of members seeking ways to enhance professionalism, ethics and business opportunities.Urs Klee, SKAL International Bali President, welcomed President Hulya Aslantas and husband Cem to Bali during a dinner with the SKAL Bali Board of Directors at the St. Regis Bali Resort on Thursday, August 27th and at the lunch at The Laguna Resort & Spa that drew a record number of 125 SKAL Bali members and guests. SKAL International has approximately 22,000 members in 480 Clubs throughout 89 nations. Most activities occur at local level, moving up through National Committees, under the umbrella of SKAL International, headquartered in Torremolinos, Spain.Membership is open to managers and executives directly involved in tourism management, sales and promotions, in specified travel and tourism businesses, including: transportation, travel and tour operators and agencies, tourism organizations, governments and non-government tourism councils, hotels, convention centers, spas, golf courses and travel media.Shown on balidiscovery.com is President Hulya Aslantas and her husband, Cem. Flanked by two Balinese dancers.

Get Ready for Higher Electrical Rates?

Indonesian State Electricity Board Desperately Needs More Funds. Is Bali Due for Higher Rates?

The State Electricity Board (PLN) is in desperate need of more funds to cover operating deficits and expand the Indonesian power grid.The House of Representatives has recently increased the subsidies paid by the government to PLN while PLN president director Fahmi Mochtar has declared his intention to raise electrical tariffs – both moves intended to put the Company in a better position for what has been termed a "fast track" energy program.Mochtar remain uncommitted as the amount of increase he will seek in electrical tariffs, claiming the final decision on any increase rests with the Minister of Energy.In approving an increase price subsidies from 5 to 8 percent, the House of Representatives specifically stipulated PLN was not to raise the electrical tariff.Government subsidies, however, are certain to be insufficient to cover operating losses sustained by PLN which currently sells electricity for Rp. 640 (US$0.063) per kilowatt hour that it produces at a cost of Rp. 1,100 (US$0.10.8) per kilowatt hour.Barred from raising electrical tariffs, PLN is preparing to sell US$150 million in bonds at the end of the current year.PLN is also seeking government approval to charge higher tariffs in Java and Bali – areas considered "quality service areas." Current regulations specify electrical rates must be uniform in all areas of the country.Last year PLN recorded losses of Rp. 13.1 trillion (US$1.3 billion).Related Article[Bali Braces for Higher Electricity Rates].

Bali's Governor Comes Out Against Rebuilding Sari Club

Governor Pastika Wants Anything Built on Former Bombing Site to Complement Ground Zero Monument.

Bali's Governor Made Mangku Pastika has asked the Regent of Bupati not to grant permission for the building of a night club on the location of the former Sari Club which was destroyed by a terrorist bomb on October 12, 2002.Governor Pastika's recommendation comes following an announcement by a local businessman to build a club on the lot.Located immediately across the street from the formal monument listing the names of those who died in the attack, the location has been eyed by an Australian organization wishing to erect a "peace park" on the site, but has been unable to raise the fund to secure the lot.In issuing his recommendation, governor Pastika said the now vacant lot must be developed to complement the "Ground Zero" monument standing across the street.Explained Pastika, as quoted by beritabali.com: "If we can, this should be non-negotiable. I have asked the Bupati (Regent) not to issue permits anything except something that complements Ground Zero, for instance a museum or an information center."Pastika also said he would look into the building of another club already in operation at the location of the former Paddy's Pub, also destroyed in the October 2002 bombing.

The provincial government of Bali have decided to end the use of "poverty certificates" (kartu miskin) issued to local citizens seeking free medical service. In the past, these cards were used and sometimes abused by both poor and middle-class citizens seeking medical assistance without charge form Bali hospitals.As reported by beritabali.com, governor Pastika has announced that that the "poverty certificates" will not longer be needed as Bali has now introduced a program of free medical care.The free medical care program now in place requires that those seeking non-cost medical treatment only need present a local identity card (KTP) for hospitalization in third class wards.The governor told the press the free medical care is available to both the rich and poor, providing they are prepared to accept third class treatment facilities. The free medical care will only be given to people holding a Bali identity card (KTP).The provincial government has allocated Rp. 100 billion (US$9.8 million) for the free medical service with each regency in Bali also making funds available for the program.

Denpasar to Issue Biometric ID Cards

Bali's New Identity Card System Will Eliminate the Possibility of Duplicate ID Cards.

Bali's capital city of Denpasar will initiate a pilot project for new identity cards (KTP) utilizing a Single Identity Number (SIN) and biometric markers as part of overall steps to stop the widespread use of double KTPs.As reported by beritabali.com, I Nyoman Suarjana of the Denpasar marriage licenses and population services said his office is targeting the introduction of the new identity cards in the second week of October.In the current lead up period to the issuance of the new identity cards officials are undertaking a "data cleanup" These measures include the productions of more than 200,000 new family cards (Kartu keluarga) that are now being distributed to all sub districts in Bali. Once completed, these cards, detailing the personal data of all households and family groupings, when completed will be returned to population authorities in Denpasar.Using a biometric system similar to that already in operation on Indonesian passports, all the new Denpasar KTPs will be coded to prevent duplicate identity cards.Nyoman explained: "Under the new system, the identity card number (NIK) will be issued by the Department of Home Affairs. Once the identity cards with single identity numbers are in operation, it will be impossible for residents to possess more than one KTP."

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